Ben White

You are probably familiar with the Crestview High Lip Dub
2012 video that swarmed the internet and YouTube last fall, but let’s take a
closer look at man behind the camera, producer and film maker Ben White.

Ben brought much attention to the Emerald Coast and
Crestview High School after the premiere of the Crestview High Lip Dub video
that received 20,000 views the first night it was posted. It was featured on
the Elvis Duran morning show, has been referred to as “epic” and has become a
legacy to the city of Crestview. To this day, the video has received over
200,000 views.

After watching the video you would be surprised to learn
that it was rehearsed for only a month with the singers alone; the rest of the
school never rehearsed for the filming. It was a continuous shot that was
filmed only once, so what you see in the video is exactly what happened. “The
video came about because the leadership organization wanted to promote the
school. Our leadership teacher, Mrs.
Sanders, presented the idea to me and asked if I would film it. We pitched the
idea to the principle, Mr. Jones, and before we could finish the conversation
he was on board,” explains Ben.

“The video is not so
much hype anymore, but more of an example. People from around the country have
emailed me asking how I did it because they want to do the same at their
school,” says Ben. “Without the leadership class it wouldn’t have happened. I
am really thankful for the people involved.”

At only 18 years of age, Ben has been seriously pursuing
film making and producing for two years. He has self-taught himself everything
concerning film making up to this point. His career started as a hobby
producing and filming short videos and posting them to YouTube. He is currently
a film student at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. “I am in it for
the thrill of it. I really love what I do. There are a lot of people in it to
get recognition, but I am in it purely for the love of what it is.”

His most current video, “Dance away MS,” is a video
dedicated to bringing awareness of Multiple Sclerosis. “My sister was diagnosed
about a year ago with MS,” he explains.
He posted the video at the end of April, and within the first week it
had over 2,000 views worldwide. The video features people from Florida, Idaho,
The United Kingdom and Afghanistan “dancing away MS.” It has been featured on
2day FM in Australia and has received recognition from the National MS Society.
“My sister’s diagnosis motivates me to become a success because she is going to
need me at some point, whether it is now or when she is sixty when the disease
progresses, though I hope there is a cure by then.”

“There are a lot of
stories that aren’t told and could be told through movies. They have such an
impact in our culture. That’s why I do it.”